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Maria Sharapova back in Grand Slam contention, according to Annabel Croft

"The problems for her are always going to be around her peers, there has been a lot of animosity from some of her fellow players."

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Greg Rusedski and Annabel Croft discuss Maria Sharapova's first tournament win since returning from a drugs ban

Maria Sharapova is ready to challenge for Grand Slams again following her first title since her return from a drugs ban, according to Annabel Croft.

The Russian former world No 1 defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the Tianjin Open final on Sunday to clinch her first title since returning to the WTA Tour following a 15-month drugs ban.

And Sky Sports tennis analyst Croft believes Sharapova, who reached the US Open fourth round in September, will soon be challenging in the latter stages of Grand Slams again.

Maria Sharapova of Russia holds her trophy after winning her women's singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Tianjin Open tennis tour
Image: Maria Sharapova claimed her first title following her 15-month drugs ban

Croft has been impressed by Sharapova's return to the sport in a limited space of time and has highlighted her "strength of mind and competitive spirit" as being vital to her return to form.

The former British No 1 admits she is also interested to see how the Australian public react to her inevitable return to Melbourne Park for the opening major of 2018.

Russia's Maria Sharapova plays a forehand return to Belinda Bencic at the 2016 Australian Open
Image: Sharapova last played at the Australian Open in 2016

"It was only her seventh event back out on the tour since that ban and she only played one event - the Australian Open last year - before the ban came into force, so that is only eight events over the course of a two-year period," Croft told Sky Sports.

"The problems for her are always going to be around her peers, there has been a lot of animosity from some of her fellow players. Seeing her back on court has not always welcomed a lot of huge support, although having said that, at the US Open she did have a lot of support from the Americans.

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With the way women's tennis is going and the changes in the number one status, you can't underestimate what she can achieve
Annabel Croft on Sharapova
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 01:  Maria Sharapova of Russia salutes the fans after her match win over Sofia Kenin of the United States during their third round
Image: Sharapova reached the fourth round on her return to Grand Slam tennis

"We have never underestimated the strength of mind and competitive spirit that Sharapova has every time she steps out on court.

"She is going to be putting herself definitely in the mix [at majors]. She is going to be preparing to come back to the Australian Open - where it all started of course - and it is going to be interesting to see how people take to her there.

"Judging by her character that we have seen on the tour she seems to deflect everything and has a very thick skin and is able to go out there and just play in the moment. She has been a Grand Slam champion in the past and a former world number one. With the way women's tennis is going and the changes in the number-one status, you can't underestimate what she can achieve."

BEIJING, CHINA - OCTOBER 04:  Simona Halep of Romania celebrates after winning the Maria Sharapova of Russia during the Women's singles 3rd round on day fi
Image: Simona Halep is the current world No 1

Meanwhile, Sharapova, who described her triumph in China as a "special victory", secured her 36th singles title without dropping a set and her first championship victory since winning at Rome in 2015.

"It is a special title, a special victory," Sharapova said after the match. "It has been a couple of years since I have held the winner's trophy. It is a great feeling, a team effort.

"When you start all the way from the beginning of the tournament, and it was so cold and not as many spectators, and then you end up playing the final in a full stadium with so much enthusiasm and energy and you are the one that wins the last point, just everything falls into place. You have to appreciate those moments, never take them for granted."

The five-time Grand Slam champion will next bid to secure back-to-back titles when she plays in front of her home supporters at the Kremlin Cup, an event she has never won before in her career.

"I am really looking forward to playing in my home country as the last event of the year," said Sharapova. "Obviously coming there with the title already means a lot, but I do really want to finish strong, even though it is a very fast turnaround, and I don't remember the last time that I played three events in a row. But I will give it everything I have got and I know I have so many amazing fans there."

We will have all the action from the Erste Bank Open and Swiss Indoors Basel before the Paris Masters.

The Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan and season-ending extravaganza World Tour Finals at London's O2 in November end another memorable year which will be covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs and updates as the season reaches its climax.

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